The burden of hypertension in the emergency department and linkage to care: A prospective cohort study in Tanzania.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Globally, hypertension affects one billion people and disproportionately burdens low-and middle-income countries. Despite the high disease burden in sub-Saharan Africa, optimal care models for diagnosing and treating hypertension have not been established. Emergency departments (EDs) are frequently the first biomedical healthcare contact for many people in the region. ED encounters may offer a unique opportunity for identifying high risk patients and linking them to care.

Methods

Between July 2017 and March 2018, we conducted a prospective cohort study among patients presenting to a tertiary care ED in northern Tanzania. We recruited adult patients with a triage blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg in order to screen for hypertension. We explored knowledge, attitudes and

SUBMITTER: Galson SW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6347227 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature